Manifold vent control



April 28, 1942. w. R. HEARN ETA; 2,281,287

MANIFOLD VENT CONTROL 3 Sheets-Shea?l -l Filed' sept. 27, lesa Y wwwp'ril 28, 1942. w. R. HEARN E1-Al. 21,281,287

MANIFOLD VENT CONTROL Filed sept. 27, 195s 5 Vshams-sneeft 2 April 28,1942. w. R. HARN ET Al.

MANIFOLD VENT CONTROL s sheets-sheet 's Filed Sept. 27, 1958 vit isbeing driven.

Patented Apr. 28, 1942 rss Irf FEE MANIFOLD VENT CGNTROL and fifteen percent to per cent'to said Snoek,

said Challeen Application September 27, 1938, Serial No. 231,92

(Cl. 12S- 124) Claims.

This invention relates to a manifold vent control for internalcombustion motors.

The general object of the present invention is to provide an apparatusadapted to automatically vent the intake manifold of an .internalcombustion engine to the atmosphere whenever the throttle of the motoris closed and the motor is being driven.

An internal combustion engine may be driven in various manner; forexample, Whenever the engine has been operating at high speed and thethrottle quickly closed, the inertia of the iiy-wheel Will continuetodrive the engine. Furthermore, in the case of a vehicle, `when Vthevehicle is descending a grade with the clutch engaged and the throttleclosed, the engine Will be driven. Likewise, in the case of anaeroplane, when .theaeroplane is diving towards the earth with thethrottle closed, the motor Will .be driven by the propeller. In anyofsuch cases, Where the internal combustion engine is driven with thethrottle closed, the engine places a relatively Yhigh vacuum in theintake manifold due to the pumping actionof the pistons and valves. Thishigh vacuum with a -normalinternal combustion .engine operates to draw aconsiderable quantity of fuel through the carburetor and inject the:same into the engine in the form of a very highly enriched fuelmixture. This fuel mixture is too rich for proper explosion andisdischargedfrom' the engine only at most in aipartially combusted state.

Various disadvantages arise from the .foregoing action of an internalcombustion engine when These disadvantages are, for example- 1) Thecreation of obnoxious gases;

(2) Thedilution ofthe oil in the crank case of the engine .with fuel;

(3) An unnecessary waste `of fuel;

(4) Clogging of the engine so that it willnot always `start immediatelyon opening the throttle;

(5) Improper lubrication of the engine during this period.

Various devices have been proposed in the past for venting the intakemanifold to the atmosphere, during the periods when the engine is beingdriven, for the purpose of removing the vacuum applied to the carburetorto thereby prevent fuel being drawn into the motor. The devicesheretofore proposed have not proved practical in operation. For thesuccessful operation of such a device, it is necessary that whenever themotor is being driven the lvent .control valve be snapped to a Wide openposition and .maintained in said position as long as the engine is beingdriven with the throttle closed. 'I'he vent control apparatus must thenautomatically snap quickly to the closed position Whenever Atl'iethrottle is open, and it is intended that the Vpovver be supplied by themotor. Changes in the vacuum within the intake manifold of the enginemay occur vfor various reasons in the operation of the engine, andprevious devices have failed vin practice because they have eitherfailed to `open or operate at the desirediperiods, or have 'been capable.of 'frequently operating at undesired periods.

In accordance with the present invention, the vent control apparatus isrendered substantially unaffected by vacuum conditions in the intakemanifold of the engine other than those changes in vacuum characteristicof an engine being driven. This is accomplished by providing the ventcontrol valve with a secondary vacuum controlled chamber having alimited and controlled communication with the intake manifold, wherebythe valve may become vacuum yequalized un- .der various conditions ofvacuum existing in the intake manifold of the engine, except Where arapid increase in vacuum is created, such as characteristic of theengine` being driven with the throttle closed. In this manner, thedevice is prevented from undergoing undesired operations. Y

Various auxiliary means are provided in the venting apparatus of thepresent invention for controlling the action of the device in order thatit will be certain to operate only at desired periods of time. Suchmeans include catch means for holding the valve inoperative untilatleast a predetermined high vacuum tends to open the same, and means forcarefully regulating the rate of communication between the secondaryvacuum chamber and the intake manifold whereby through the regulation ofthe rate of communication the apparatus may be set to snap open at anydesired predetermined change of vacuum.

Another feature of the venting apparatus of the present invention `isthe provision therein of means for causing the air drawn through theapparatus to carry oil to the engine head. The diliculty of properlyoiling the upper part of an internal combustion engine has long beenappreciated, but not satisfactorily performed. With the device of thepresent invention, upon each closing of the throttle a certain amount ofoil is drawn into the intake manifold and distributed in a mostdesirable `manner during the scavenging period or the interval ofnon-combustion. Furthermore, the oil drawn in with the air operates tolubricate the vent control device itself.

Further features of the present invention consist of the simplicity ofthe design of the apparatus which can be made at a low cost withrelatively few parts and at the same time providing a device capable oftaking care of a great variety of conditions of operation which may beeasily and readily adjusted.

A further object of the present invention is to provide means forventing the manifold of an internal combustion engine to the atmosphereduring the high speed operations of the engine. As internal combustionengines are at present designed, they are unable to secure a sufcientsupply of air for proper combustion when operated at high speeds. Thepresent invention provides means by which the high speed operation ofthe engine will vent the intake manifold to the atmosphere in order topermit additional air being supplied during such high speed operations,

A further advantage of the present invention is due to the fact that theopening of the manifold to air during the descent, for example, of avehicle down a hill, increases the retarding action of the motor,eliminating the necessity of so much operation of the brake.Furthermore, the drawing of the air into the engine during these periodsof operation cools the engine, which is of great value against thewarping of valves.

Various further objects and advantages of the present invention will beapparent from a description of a preferred form or example of the deviceembodying the invention. For this purpose, we have hereinafterdescribed, with reference to the accompanying drawings, a preferred formof the device.

In the drawings:

Figure l is an elevation.

Figure 2 is an enlarged elevation mainly in vertical sectionillustrat'ng the device in the l.

closed position.

Figure 3 is a similar elevation in vertical section with certain partsremoved, showing the device in the open position.

Figure 4 is a section on the line 4 4 of Fig- "1' ure 3.

Figure 5 is an elevation of the apparatus as it is modified to providefor an additional vent control to be operated when the engine isoperated at high speed.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary section on the line S-I of Figure 5.

Figure 7 is a fragmentary section on the line 'I-T of Figure 6. t

Referring to the drawings, the device comprises a valve body member 2,which is provided with an inlet 3 for air which is to be vented to themanifold of an internal combustion engine, and air which may lead ablymaking connection therewith between the intake manifold and itsconnection with the carburetor. The valve body comprises a cylindricalcentral portion 5, the lower end of whichf I;

is enlarged as indicated at 1, and which is provided with a ange 8, bymeans of which the outlet 4 may be bolted thereto, the outlet preferablybeing formed separately from the valve body 2. Above the cylindricalportion 5 the'k with an outlet 4 for such, to the manifold, prefer- Fbody is enlarged, as with a lateral port let 3.

The valve comprising a tube II threaded at its lower end to support adisc I2 and mounting I3 of compression spring members I4, one end o-fwhich spring members is secured to the swiveling mounting I3 and theother ends of which engage sockets I5 in the body member 2. Thesesprings are normally tensioned to expand and are so mounted that inclosed position, as indicated in Figure 2, they apply a force normallytending to maintain the valve closed. They are arranged in the form of atoggle, so that in the open position, as viewed in Figure 3, they aresubstantially on center, so that in open position they apply littleforce to move the valve. Above the spring mountings I3, tube II carrieson a socket IB the valve head proper I'I, which is intended to close thevalve by tting into the cylindrical portion 5 of the body. A spring I'iaand spacer I6a are provided for steadying the head I1. The tube lIfurther carries a hollow sleeve I8 of sufficient length to abut againstthe top wall of the valve body in the closed position and shut off theport I from communication. In order to better seal the device, as wellas eliminate noise from its opening and closing, the upper wall of thebody is shown as provided with a packing I9 held in place by member 20,

The sleeve I8, together with the head I'I in the closed position, formwhat is herein referred to as a secondary vacuum chamber which iscapable of balancing under certain conditions the vacuum existing onopposite sides of the head I1. For this purpose, the tube II is providedwith openings 2I whereby vacuum in said secondary chamber may beestablished by the outlet line drawing air from said chamber through theopenings 2| and hollow tube II. It the openings are of suicient size andunrestricted the variations in vacuum occurring in the intake manifoldof the engine would have no inuence on the operation of the apparatus,but, by suitably closing the openings 2|, the rate of now of air fromthe secondary vacuum chamber to the intake manifold may be so controlledthat the apparatus while remaining resistant to certain vacuum changeswill nevertheless be effectively actuated by the vacuum changes existingat the moment the throttle is closed and while the motor continues tooperate under its momentum. The extent of communication between thesecondary vacuum chamber and the intake manifold for this purpose mustbe accurately maintained. For this purpose, there is provided a rod 22within the hollow tube II having a head capable of moving so as to closeor partially close the openings 2I, said rod being attached to a nut 23threaded to the shaft I I.v

As a further means for inhibiting undesired operation of the apparatuswith certain limited vacuum changes in the intake manifold, we provide acatch means consisting of a ball 24 normally pressed against the tube IIby spring 25, the tension of which may be controlled by the set screw25. The ball 2li is adapted to engage the groove 2'! on tube II when theapparatus is in the closed position and hold the apparatus in closedposition against minor variations in vacuum. The set screw 26 isprovided with a spring 2lia which serves to retain the same in anyadjusted position.

I0 communicating with inindicated at 9, and provided The device furthercomprises a retracting spring 21a engaging a head 28 on the tube Il andthe valve body 2. This spring is designed to apply just suiicient forceto move the toggle spring Hl from its own center position when otherforces acting on the valve have ceased. The head or collar E8 of theretracting spring also mounts a spring M, the opposite end of whichengages the adjusting nut 23 which controls the opening of the ports 2i.The spring @il operates to thus preserve the setting of the adjustingnut E3, thereby preventing undesired changes in the opening of the ports2l.

The controls consisting of the head 2S and the retracting spring 2lELand head it for clos' g the ports 2i are preferably enclosed in a ii' tothe valve body 2.

The air inl-et 3 of the valve body is preferaliily attached by suitablemeans, such as the fitting 28a, to an air filter 2921, indicated asprovided with suitable filter screening material Sie of any preferred orcustomary design. While a separate air lter for the vent controlapparatus may be used, if desired, it is also possible, and in mostcases preferable, to use the same air filter connected With thecarburetor of the internal combustion engine. In order to provide forthe oiling of the Vent control apparatus, and more particularly in orderto inject oil into the engine, particularly around the valve portsthereof, during the scavenging period of operation, the fitting 23asupports a tube 3i mounting an oil conm tainer 32. Ielescoped Within thetube Si, but spaced therefrom, is provided a tube which extends close tothe bottom of the oil container 32 andV passes through the fitting 232and is supported by a boss 33 thereof. At its upper end the inner tube33 is provided by the cap which may be opened into a filling enlargement25. By

the arrangement thus described, the of s air through the fitting 23aplaces suction on the space between tubes Si and 33, drawing air throughthe tube 33, through the oil container 32, and into the fitting 23athrough the space between tubes Si and t3. The air enters tube from theatmosphere by leaking by the cap fill. This Wets the air entering theintake manifold with a small quantity of oil sufficient for completelubrication of the vent control device, and also the cil is drawn intothe engine head lubri eating the intake and exhaust valves as Well asthe upper portion of the cylinder head. rlhis oiling operatic--performed by the apparatus of the present invention is of great value,inasmuch as the internal combustion engine and parts thereof haveheretofore been inadequately lubricated above the cylinder head. Bymeans of the present invention, a cycle of operations for the engine isprovided Where no combustion takes place. By introducing oil during thisperiod, lubrication is accomplished in a manner superior to anythingheretofore secured. This oiling of the engine is of particular valuewhen, for example, the vehicle is descending a long grade, where incertain cases it may be operating for as much as half an hour Withoutdesirable combustion. By the apparatus of the present invention theengine becomes adequately cooled during such descent and is moreoverproperly oiled. Similarly, in the case of an aeroplane diving from aheight, the apparatus of the present invention results in properlylubricating the engine head throughout the dive, and furthermore thepilot is assured that the engine will immediately commence operating onopening of the throttle. As at present designed, when an aeroplane divesfrom a height, it is necessary for the pilot to frequently open thethrottle in order to be certain that the engine Will not become cloggedwith an over-supply of gasoline and, therefore, not operate immediatelyupon the opening of the throttle.

Now, referring to Figures 5, 6 and 7, the modication of the apparatus asshown consists of the addition between the valve body 2 and the outlet 4of a fitting 35, which carries a valve chamber 3l having a rotatingvalve head 33. The valve head 38 is attached by a shaft 39 to a singleblade fan Ail. The fan d@ is provided with spring means t normallytending to hold the same in position to maintain the valve iii? closed.The fan @il is disposed in a position to be affected by the blast of airleaving the fan (not shown) of the internal combustion engine. There isprovided a spring t? for holding the valve head 33 in place and ports d3for the entrance of air to the valve head 38.

The apparatus thus described is designed for opening or venting theintake manifold of the engine to the atmosphere in order to provide forthe entrance of additional air into the manifold during those periods ofoperations of the engine Where the same is being driven with thethrottle open and at high speed. Under these conditions, most internalcombustion engines fail to secure a suflicient supply of air for comcombustion of the fuel. With the apparatus of the present invention, thetension of the spring lli is so set that the pressure of air on the fanblade lil will cause the valve 3E to open Whenever the internalcombustion engine is operai ,g at such high speeds, therebyautomatically lying intake manifold of the engine with this additionalair desirable for these periods operation.

While the particular form of the invention herein described is Welladapted to car v out the objects thereof, it is to be understood thatvarious modifications and changes .ay be made Without departing from theprinci, les of the invention, and the invention includes all suchmodifications and changes as come v-.f'ithin the scope of the appendedclaims.

We claim:

l. A manifold vent control, comprising a valve chamber having an airinlet and an outlet, a normally closed valve member Within said valvechamber operable to open position by vacuum within said outlet, meansyieldingly maintaining said valve member in the closed position, avacuum balancing means for said valve member having restrictedcommunication with said outlet, and baiiie means for said valve memberoperable for retaining the valve member in open position by the flow ofair to said outlet.

2. A manifold vent control comprising a valve chamber having an airinlet and an outlet, a valve member Within said valve chamber having asleeve portion and a head portion movable to a closed position Wheresaid sleeve portion closes said air inlet, said sleeve portion and saidhead portion providing in the closed position a, vacuum balancingchamber, said valve member being movable also to an open positionwherein said chamber is open to the passage of air, means yieldinglymaintaining said valve member in closed position, said valve memberoperable by vacuum Within said outlet to the open position.

3. A manifold vent control comprising a valve chamber Vhaving an air'inlet and an outlet, a

valve member within said valve chamber having a sleeve portion and ahead portion movable to a closed position where said sleeve portion andsaid head portion provide vacuum balancing chamber and movable also toan open position wherein said chamber is open to the passage of air,means yieldingly maintaining said valve member in closed position, saidvalve member operable by vacuum Within said outlet to the open position,and said valve member having baffle means permitting the flow of air tofacilitate retaining the valve member in open position.

4. A manifold vent control comprising a valve chamber having an airinlet and an outlet to an engine manifold, a valve member including asleeve and a valve head movable to close the valve chamber and form avacuum balancing chamber at the rear of said valve head in the closedposition and movable to an open position to permit iiow of air throughsuch sleeve to the manifold, means providing a controlled restrictedcommunication between vacuum balancing chamber and manifold, and meansyieldingly assisting to maintain the valve member in the closedposition.

5. A manifold vent control comprising a valve chamber having an airinlet and an outlet to an engine manifold, a valve member including asleeve and a valve head movable to close the valve chamber and form avacuum balancing chamber at the rear of said valve head in the closedposition and movable to an open position to permit the flow of airthrough such sleeve to the manifold, means providing a controlledrestricted communication between vacuum balancing chamber and manifold,and toggle spring means normally assisting to maintain said valve memberin the closed position and movable to a nearly on center position in theopen position of said valve member.

6. A manifold vent control comprising a valve chamber having an airinlet and an outlet to an engine manifold, a valve member including asleeve and a valve head movable to close the valve chamber and form avacuum balancing chamber at the rear of said valve head in the closedposition and movable to an open position to permit flow of air throughsuch sleeve to the manifold, means providing a controlled restrictedcommunication between vacuum balancing chamber and manifold, springmeans operating to urge the valve member to the closed position. saidspring means including toggle members moving towards the on centerposition as the valve member is opening to reduce the force of thespring means tending to close said valve member, and means for adjustingthe spring means to provide a predetermined closing tendency in the openposition of said valve member.

7. A manifold vent control comprising a valve chamber having an airinlet and an outlet to an engine manifold, a valve member including asleeve and a valve head movable to close the valve chamber and form avacuum balancing chamber at the rear of said valve head in the closedposition and movable to an open position to permit i'iow of air throughsuch sleeve to the manifold, means providing a controlled restrictedcommunication between vacuum balancing chamber and manifold, baillemeans for said valve member operable to assist in retaining the valvemember in the open position by the now of air to said manifold, springmeans operating to urge the valve member to the closed position, saidspring means including toggle members moving towards the on centerposition as the valve member is opened to reduce the tendency of thespring means to close said valve member, and means for adjusting saidspring means to provide in the open position of said valve member apredetermined tendency for said spring means to close said valve member.

8. A manifold vent control having a valve body, means for connecting thevalve body with a source of air, means for connecting the valve bodywith a manifold, said valve body having a sleeve chamber with a lateralport connected to said source of air, a valve member carrying a sleevemovable in said sleeve chamber movable to close said lateral port, saidvalve member having a head movable simultaneously to close said sleevechamber and dene with said sleeve a vacuum balancing chamber, arestricted communicating means between said vacuum chamber and theconnection with said manifold, and means yieldingly urging the valvemember into the closed position.

9. A manifold Vent control having a valve body, means for connecting thevalve body with a source of air, means for connecting the valve bodywith a manifold, said valve body having a sleeve chamber with a lateralport connected to said source of air, a valve member carrying a sleevemovable in said sleeve chamber, movable to close said lateral port, saidvalve member having a head movable simultaneously to close said sleevechamber and define with said sleeve a vacuumbalancing chamber, arestricted communicating means between said vacuum chamber and theconnection with said manifold, means yieldingly urging the valve memberin the closed position, said Valve member having a baffle arranged topermit the flow of air through the device to apply a force holding thevalve member in the open position.

l0. A manifold vent control, comprising a sleeve chamber having near oneend a lateral air inlet port and having at its other end an outlet to anengine manifold, a valve member including a sleeve and a head, thesleeve being movable to close said lateral port and said head beingmovable to close the other end of said sleeve chamber, said sleeve beingdesigned to close said lateral port slightly in advance of the closingof said sleeve chamber by said head, said sleeve chamber, sleeve, andhead operating in a closed position to form a vacuum balancing chamber,and a restricted communication between said vacuum balancing chamber andsaid manifold.

11. A manifold vent control, comprising a valve chamber having an airinlet and an outlet, a valve member within said valve chamber operableto the open position by vacuum Within said outlet, means yieldinglyurging said valve member to the closed position, and a vacuum balancingmeans for said valve member effective to normally prevent the vacuumwithin said outlet opening said valve member and provided with arestricted communication with said outlet effective to unbalance thevacuum on said valve member so as to allow said valve member to openupon rapid increases in the vacuum in said outlet.

12. A manifold vent control, comprising a valve chamber having an airinlet and an outlet, a valve member within said valve chamber operableto the open position by vacuum Within said outlet, means yieldinglyVurging said valve member to the closed position, vacuum balancing meansfor said valve member eiective to normally prevent the vacuum withinsaid outlet opening said valve member and provided with a restrictedcommunication with said outlet effective to unbalance the vacuum on saidValve member so as to allow said valve member to open upon rapidincreases in the vacuum in said outlet, and means for controlling therestriction between said balancing means and outlet.

13. A manifold vent control, comprising a valve chamber having an airinlet and an outlet, a normally closed valve member within said valvechamber operable to open position by vacuum in said outlet, meansyieldingly maintaining said valve member in closed position, said valvemember having means forming a vacuum balancing chamber for the same inthe closed position normally eiective to prevent the vacuum from openingsaid valve member, said means having a controllable communication withsaid outlet effective under sudden vacuum changes for permitting thevacuum to open said valve member.

14. A manifold vent control comprising a sleeve chamber having an airinlet and an outlet, a valve member Within said sleeve chamber andhaving a sleeve portion normally closing said air inlet and a headportion normally closing said outlet and operable to open position byvacuum in said outlet, means yieldingly maintaining said valve member inclosed position, said valve member having means forming a vacuumbalancing chamber for the same in the closed position, and acontrollable communication between said vacuum balancing chamber andsaid outlet effective to normally prevent the vacuum Within said outletopening said valve and eiective under sudden vacuum changes for allowingthe vacuum within said outlet to open said valve member.

15. A manifold vent control, comprising a valve chamber having an airinlet and an outlet, a valve member within said valve chamber operableto open position by vacuum within said outlet, yielding means normallymaintaining said valve member in closed position, and means forming avacuum balancing chamber for said valve member in the closed position,said means having a restricted communication with said outlet normallyeiective to prevent the vacuum within said outlet opening said valvemember and eifective under sudden vacuum changes for allowing the vacuumwithin said outlet opening said valve member, said vacuum balancingchamber connecting with said air inlet in the act of opening said valvemember to facilitate rapid and full opening thereof.

GEORGE J. SNOOK. WALTER R. HEARN. ALBERT J. CHALLEEN.

